Habsburg rule History of the Jews in Hungary

1 habsburg rule

1.1 further persecution , expulsions (1686–1740)
1.2 maria theresa (1740–1780)
1.3 joseph ii (1780–1790)

habsburg rule
further persecution , expulsions (1686–1740)

the imperial troops recaptured buda on september 2, 1686, jewish residents massacred, captured , later released ransom. in following years whole of hungary came under rule of house of habsburg. devastated country had repopulated, bishop count leopold karl von kollonitsch, subsequently archbishop of esztergom , primate of hungary, advised king give preference german catholics in order country might in time become german , catholic. held jews not exterminated @ once, must weeded out degrees, bad coin gradually withdrawn circulation. decree passed diet of pressburg (1687–1688), imposing double taxation upon jews. jews not permitted engage in agriculture, nor own real estate, nor keep christian servants.

this advice bore fruit , in part acted upon. in august 1690, government @ vienna ordered sopron expel jews, had immigrated austrian provinces. government, desiring enforce edict of last diet, decreed afterward jews should removed office of collector. order proved ineffective, however; , employment of jewish customs officials continued. treasurer of realm set example in transgressing law appointing (1692) simon hirsch customs farmer @ leopoldstadt (leopoldov); , @ hirsch s death transferred office hirsch s son-in-law.

the revolt of kuruc, under francis ii rákóczi, caused suffering hungary s jews. kuruc imprisoned , slew jews, had incurred anger siding king s party. jews of eisenstadt, accompanied of community of mattersdorf, sought refuge @ vienna, wiener-neustadt, , forchtenstein; of holics (holíč) , sasvár (Šaštín) dispersed göding (hodonín); while others, not leave business in time of distress, sent families safe places, , braved danger. while not many jews lost lives during revolt, made great havoc in wealth, in sopron county, number of rich jews living. king granted letters of protection had been ruined revolt, , demanded satisfaction had been injured; in return these favors commanded jews furnish sums necessary suppressing revolt.

after restoration of peace jews expelled many cities feared competition; esztergom expelled them in 1712, on ground city had given birth st. stephen must not desecrated them. jews living in country, on estates of landlords, left alone.

the lot of jews not improved under reign of leopold s son, charles iii (1711–1740). informed government (june 28, 1725) intended decrease number of jews in domains, , government thereupon directed counties furnish statistics of hebrew inhabitants. in 1726 king decreed in austrian provinces, day of publication of decree, 1 male member in each jewish family allowed marry. decree, restricting natural increase of jews, materially affected jewish communities of hungary. jews in austrian provinces not marry there went hungary found families; overflow of austrian jews peopled hungary. these immigrants settled chiefly in northwestern counties, in nyitra (nitra), pressburg (bratislava), , trencsén (trenčín).

the moravian jews continued live in hungary moravian subjects; went there purpose of marrying , settling promised on oath before leaving pay same taxes living in moravia. in 1734 jews of trencsén bound secret oath in communal affairs submit jewish court @ ungarisch-brod (uherský brod) only. in course of time immigrants refused pay taxes austrian provinces. moravian jews, had suffered heavy emigration, brought complaint; , maria theresa ordered jewish , christian subjects had emigrated after 1740 should extradited, while had emigrated before date released moravian allegiance.

the government not, however, check large immigration; although strict laws drafted in 1727, not enforced owing good-will of magnates toward jews. counties either did not answer @ all, or sent reports bespeaking mercy rather persecution.

meanwhile, king endeavored free mining-towns jews — work leopold had begun in 1693. jews, however, continued settle near these towns; displayed wares @ fairs; and, permission of court, erected foundry @ ság (sasinkovo). when king charles ordered them leave (march 1727), royal mandate in places ignored; in others jews obeyed had repeat edict 3 months later.

maria theresa (1740–1780)

in 1735, census of jews of country taken view of reducing numbers. there @ time 11,621 jews living in hungary, of 2,474 male heads of families, , fifty-seven female heads. of these heads of families 35.31 per cent declared hungarians; rest had immigrated. of immigrants 38.35 per cent came moravia, 11.05 per cent poland, , 3.07 per cent bohemia. largest jewish community, numbering 770 persons, of pressburg (bratislava). of jews engaged in commerce or industries, being merchants, traders, or shopkeepers; few pursued agriculture.

during reign of queen maria theresa (1740–1780), daughter of charles iii, jews expelled buda (1746), , toleration-tax imposed upon hungarian jews. on september 1, 1749, delegates of hungarian jews, except szatmár county, assembled @ pressburg , met royal commission, informed them expelled country if did not pay tax. frightened jews @ once agreed so; , commission demanded yearly tax of 50,000 gulden. sum being excessive, delegates protested; , although queen had fixed 30,000 gulden minimum tax, able compromise on payment of 20,000 gulden year period of 8 years. delegates apportion amount among districts; districts, respective sums among communities; , communities, theirs among individual members.

the queen confirmed agreement of commission, except eight-year clause, changing period 3 years, subsequently made five. agreement, ratified queen, brought on november 26 before courts, powerless relieve jews payment of malkegeld (queen s money), called it.

the jews, burdened new taxes, thought time ripe taking steps remove oppressive disabilities. while still @ presburg delegates had brought grievances before mixed commission called delegata in puncto tolerantialis taxae et gravaminum judeorum commissio mixta. these complaints pictured distress of jews of time. not allowed live in croatia , slavonia, in baranya , heves counties, or in several free royal towns , localities; nor might visit markets there. @ stuhlweissenburg (székesfehérvár) had pay poll-tax of 1 gulden, 30 kreuzer if entered city during day, if hour. in many places might not stay overnight. therefore begged permission settle, or @ least visit fairs, in croatia , slavonia , in places had been driven in consequence of jealousy of greeks , merchants.

the jews had pay heavier bridge-and ferry-tolls christians; @ nagyszombat (trnava) had pay 3 times ordinary sum, namely, driver, vehicle, , animal drawing same; , in 3 villages belonging same district had pay toll, although there no toll-gate. jews living on estates of nobles had give wives , children pledges arrears of taxes. in upper hungary asked revocation of toleration-tax imposed chamber of zips county (szepes, spiš), on ground otherwise jews living there have pay 2 such taxes; , asked relieved similar tax paid diet. finally, requested jewish artisans might allowed follow trades in homes undisturbed.

the commission laid these complaints before queen, indicating manner in relieved; , suggestions subsequently willed queen , made law.

the queen relieved jews tax of toleration in upper hungary only. in regard other complaints ordered jews should specify them in detail, , government should remedy them insofar came under jurisdiction.

the toleration-tax had hardly been instituted when michael hirsch petitioned government appointed primate of hungarian jews in order able settle difficulties might arise among them, , collect tax. government did not recommend hirsch, decided in case jews should refuse pay, might advisable appoint primate adjust matter.

before end of period of 5 years delegates of jews again met commission @ pressburg (bratislava) , offered increase amount of tax 25,000 gulden year if queen promise should remain @ sum next ten years. queen had other plans, however; not did dismiss renewed gravamina of jews, rather imposed stiffer regulations upon them. tax of 20,000 gulden increased 30,000 gulden in 1760; 50,000 in 1772; 80,000 in 1778; , 160,000 in 1813.

joseph ii (1780–1790)

joseph ii (1780–1790), son , successor of maria theresa, showed on accession intended alleviate condition of jews, communicating intention hungarian chancellor, count franz esterházy may 13, 1781. in consequence hungarian government issued (march 31, 1783) decree known systematica gentis judaicae regulatio, wiped out @ 1 stroke decrees had oppressed jews centuries. royal free towns, except mining-towns, opened jews, allowed settle @ leisure throughout country. regulatio decreed legal documents of jews should no longer composed in hebrew, or in yiddish, in latin, german, , hungarian, languages used in country @ time, , young jews required learn within 2 years.

documents written in hebrew or in yiddish not legal; hebrew books used @ worship only; jews organize elementary schools; commands of emperor, issued in interests of jews, announced in synagogues; , rabbis explain people salutary effects of these decrees. subjects taught in jewish schools same taught in national schools; same text-books used in elementary schools; , might offend religious sentiment of non-conformists omitted.

a medal minted during reign of josef ii, commemorating grant of religious liberty jews , protestants.

during years christian teachers employed in jewish schools, have nothing religious affairs of such institutions. after lapse of ten years jew might establish business, or engage in trade, if prove had attended school. usual school-inspectors supervise jewish schools , report government. jews create fund organizing , maintaining schools. jewish youth might enter academies, , might study subject @ universities except theology. jews might rent farms if cultivate same without aid of christians.

jews allowed peddle , engage in various industrial occupations, , admitted guilds. permitted engrave seals, , sell gunpowder , saltpeter; exclusion mining-towns remained in force. christian masters allowed have jewish apprentices. distinctive marks hitherto worn jews abolished, , might carry swords. on other hand, required discard distinctive marks prescribed religion , shave beards. emperor joseph regarded decree allowed no 1 violate it.

the jews, in petition dated april 22, 1783, expressed gratitude emperor favors, and, reminding him of principle religion should not interfered with, asked permission wear beards. emperor granted prayer of petitioners, reaffirmed other parts of decree (april 24, 1783). jews organized schools in various places, @ pressburg (bratislava), Óbuda, vágújhely (nové mesto nad váhom), , nagyvárad (oradea). decree issued emperor (july 23, 1787) effect every jew should choose german surname; , further edict (1789) ordered, consternation of jews, should henceforth perform military service.

after death of joseph ii royal free cities showed hostile attitude toward jews. citizens of pest petitioned municipal council after may 1, 1790, jews should no longer allowed live in city. government interfered; , jews merely forbidden engage in peddling in city. 7 days decree of expulsion had been issued @ nagyszombat (trnava), may 1 being fixed date of jews departure. jews appealed government; , in following december city authorities of nagyszombat informed diet had confirmed former rights of jews, , latter not expelled.